Health Care

Congressional Budget Office - Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008

H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008, cancels a reduction in Medicare's payment rates for physicians' services that went into effect on July 1, 2008, and extends other expiring provisions governing the Medicare program. It also will increase payment rates for physicians' services for 2009, expand eligibility for low-income benefits, and reduce payments to Medicare Advantage plans.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6331 will increase direct spending by less than $50 million over the 2008-2013 period and by $0.3 billion over the 2008-2018 period. In addition, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates that the act will increase federal revenues by $0.2 billion over the 2008-2013 period and by $0.4 billion over the 2008-2018 period. In total, CBO estimates that the act will reduce deficits (or increase surpluses) by $0.1 billion over the 2008-2013 period and by less than $50 million over the 2008-2018 period.